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LONDON: Britain’s gaffe-prone Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson landed himself in trouble on Wednesday when he told visitors to a Sikh temple he always took `clinky’, or Johnnie Walker, to India when he visited relatives.

Johnson, who was then told that alcohol was against the Sikh religion, made his comments when speaking about whisky exports to India during an address at a gurdwara in Bristol.

Wearing an orange turban, Boris Johnson said whisky exports would get a boost if Britain and India could strike a trade deal. “Whenever we go to India ... we have to bring `clinky’ in our luggage. We have to bring Johnnie Walker. We have to bring whisky because as you may know there is a duty of 150 per cent in India on imports of Scotch whisky,” he said. “So we have to bring it in duty-free for our relatives. But imagine what we could do if there was a free trade deal with India,” he said, according to a video published online by the Bristol Post newspaper.

But one worshipper, speaking during a subsequent question and answer session with Mr Johnson, said she would be against increasing whisky exports to India because “it’s against our religion”. Johnson apologised and said: “I understand your point of view.”

Britain’s Sikh Federation also voiced outrage. “No politician in his right mind would speak in a gurdwara about a trade deal involving alcohol,” the foundation’s head Bhai Narinderjit Singh said.

On DawnNews

Comments (8) Closed

Asif A Shah

May 18, 2017 10:49am

Long ago Napoleon called Britain " a nation of merchants". Britain has been known to go to war with China in order to gain the rights to sell opium in China. It has also sold weapons to Saudi Arabia whose conduct in the spheres of conflict is of highly questionable morality. Now, Britain's Foreign Minister wants to export British whisky so that Indian could have good times. For the sake of Indian people I will suggest that tariff on whisky imports to India should be increased from 150 percent to 200 percent.Mr. Johnson! keep your pubs open and leave India alone. Thanks!

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anshul

May 18, 2017 12:41pm

Common sense is so uncommon. World is full of idiots. At least look at the place where u standing.

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rana ahmed riaz

May 18, 2017 12:44pm

Check out Boris Johnson funny moments on you tube, he should be a stand up comedian. What a Legend. Long Live Boris.

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kuNAL MAJUMDAR, GURGAON

May 18, 2017 04:50pm

@Asif A Shah: Thank you Bro! Post Brexit, lot of things have exited Britain, including their sense of judgment.